(CBS) — The Des Plaines Theater has been closed for the past seven months because of building code violations and there are those who’d like to see it back up and running again as soon as possible.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Barbara Ryan says the Des Plaines Theater is “the centerpiece” of downtown Des Plaines and would help restaurants, shops and other businesses in the area if it would only be operating consistently.

“My hopes and the chambers hopes are that it would become operational either with movies or live performances on a regular basis,”.

The City of Des Plaines even asked if anyone would be interested in buying it from current owner Dhitu Bhagwakar and two people indicated they were interested: Ron Onesti of the Arcada Theater in St. Charles and trucking company owner Jack Groat.

Groat says he wants to buy the theater “so bad” but that the current owner won’t even give him a price, so Groat says he’ll wait.

WBBM Newsradio has reached out Des Plaines’ city manager as well as to the theater’s current owner but have not yet received responses.